France 37 Argentina 23
France wrapped up their autumn with a third win in a row over Argentina, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey adding another rapid try to his growing collection.
Argentina’s discipline fell apart in what looked like a tired performance to conclude their busy Test calendar this year, having peaked during the Rugby Championship with their three wins.
Just like in Dublin the previous Friday they started slow before coming back hard, but first-half yellow cards for Julian Montoya and Juan Martin Gonzalez hurt their prospects. Montoya’s, for “twisting the lower limb” but not a croc roll, seemed harsh.
France were physical, bossed the early scrums with Uini Atonio pummelling the Argentina pack during what might have been his final Test for France at the age of 34.
Thomas Ramos at fly-half was also in complete control, producing an excellent 50:22. Thibaud Flament crashed over, and after Ramos and Argentina’s Tomas Albornoz exchanged plenty of penalties Gabin Villiere powered through for France’s second.
Then came the pivotal penalty try, Gonzalez yellow-carded for slapping the ball forwards out of the hands of a chasing Bielle-Biarrey after an excellent chip by Ramos, whose penalty soon after gave France a 30-9 lead at the break.
Argentina were better after the break as expected, with Mateo Carreras adding a spark off the bench and their forwards working hard for tries by front-rowers Thomas Gallo and Ignacio Ruiz.
But in between came Bielle-Biarrey’s excellent finish, chasing after his own grubber and beating the entire defence. At 21, the Bordeaux-Begles wing now has 13 tries in 15 Tests for France.
So comfortable were France that they shifted Antoine Dupont to fly-half to close out the contest with the talented Nolann le Garrec partnering him at half-back.
“We’re over the last Rugby World Cup and our sights are on the next one,” their lock Emmanuel Meafou said afterwards.
They will go into the Six Nations as strong contenders for the title.
10:14 PM GMT
France’s Emmanuel Meafou
We knew it was going to an 80-minute game and saw how they went a full 80 with a solid Irish team in defence and attack. We knew we would have to front up. We’re happy with the win and will go into a bit of time off before we head back into club rugby.
Physically just trying to get through whatever minutes I’m given, but as a team being able to adapt from 0 to 80 minutes. We’ll continue to build on this into the Six Nations.
There’s plenty more to come. We’re over the last Rugby World Cup and our sights are on the next one. We’ll take the three wins from November and celebrate that.
10:10 PM GMT
Julian Montoya
We didn’t start the way we wanted, our discipline wasn’t good. Lots of things to improve and we have to look inside each other at what we need to do better.
I’m proud of this team always. We win and lose together.
10:04 PM GMT
The speed from Bielle-Biarrey
10:02 PM GMT
FULL-TIME: France 37-23 Argentina
Argentina giving it a final go but the clock’s in the red. France’s defence has by and large shown up well apart from the odd missed tackle. Just haven’t offered Argentina a lot of space out wide.
It ends with a tackle into touch and that’s the game. Argentina better in the second half but it’s three wins from three for France this autumn.
09:59 PM GMT
78 mins – France 37-23 Argentina
A potential try for Croydon-born Gailleton (French mother, English father) has been ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up by Marchand. Shame, that would have been a nice conclusion. Took it well.
09:57 PM GMT
77 mins – France 37-23 Argentina
Argentina pushing again but Cros swoops in there for a jackal penalty. Put into touch by Ramos near Argentina’s 22. Charles Ollivon has been named player of the match.
09:55 PM GMT
74 mins – France 37-23 Argentina
Turned over by Argentina as Gonzalez gets to halfway. Very nice tackle by Ollivon stops a three-on-one but he’s also penalised. Lovely pass in the build-up from Le Garrec who is some player.
Argentina stuck in their half at the moment and looking a little leggy.
09:51 PM GMT
72 mins – France 37-23 Argentina
They might be up by two scores but France can’t switch off here, because Argentina love a second half comeback. Santi Carreras with a very nice break slipping past Cros and getting to halfway before Cros hunted him down and France recover.
09:49 PM GMT
TRY RUIZ! France 37-23 Argentina
Decent shove but we reset. Argentina want a pushover score here. Colombe again obliterated as Argentina look wide, now pick and go and they’re over! It’s a score for Ruiz the replacement hooker under the posts. Albornoz converts.
09:46 PM GMT
67 mins – France 37-16 Argentina
Argentina only going backwards from that maul so they reset. Pick-and-gos from the pack, just a metre short now is Gonzalez. Gallo thrives in this area. Is that knocked on? Offside penalty coming for Argentina, looks like Gallo knocked on going for the line. They want a scrum.
09:44 PM GMT
64 mins – France 37-16 Argentina
France shuffling, full-back Barre off for scrum-half Le Garrec which means Dupont to fly-half and Ramos to full-back.
From the scrum, it’s an Argentina penalty! The second against Colombe since he came on and Atonio went off. Argentina to touch deep in the 22.
09:41 PM GMT
62 mins – France 37-16 Argentina
Kremer has absolutely melted Ramos with France trying to run it out from the back, so we’re coming back for an Argentina scrum after a knock-on.
09:39 PM GMT
61 mins – France 37-16 Argentina
Another Argentina attack is snuffed out, this time with a rip in the tackle before France clear. All a bit frantic from Los Pumas with ball in hand as Villiere knocks on going for a turnover.
09:37 PM GMT
TRY BIELLE-BIARREY! France 37-16 Argentina
A game-changing chargedown from Ollivon? Maybe! Just as Argentina creaked the comeback door open France have slammed it shut, Ollivon getting to Bazan Velez with the charge down, wide to the wing where it’s kicked through for the rapid Bielle-Biarrey to score! Ramos converts.
09:35 PM GMT
TRY GALLO! France 30-16 Argentina
Argentina deserved that, clever lineout move popped down by Molina to a front pod with Gallo who rumbles over. Albornoz converts, Argentina back within two scores.
09:33 PM GMT
56 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Mateo Carreras, former favourite son of Newcastle, screams into the 22 with a nice run through Fickou’s tackle before Ollivon is penalised for going off his feet. Shaun Edwards won’t like that. Albornoz sticks it in the corner, Argentina on top now.
09:32 PM GMT
54 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Maul goes steadily for Argentina and gets over too, but the referee calls held up. No TMO check.
Ramos clears with a dropout but back comes Isgro with a great run down the wing, offloading inside to Garcia… but that’s forward. That last bit of accuracy just missing for Los Pumas. France clear.
09:30 PM GMT
52 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Atonio off for Colombe, Meafou off as well with Guillard replacing him
Scrum penalty Argentina! That’s Gallo on Colombe I think. Lineout five metres out, big chance here.
09:27 PM GMT
52 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Argentina’s best attack here, into France’s half with Oviedo putting in a nice offload. Mallia now, wide out to Moroni but he spills it! Missed chance that.
09:26 PM GMT
50 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Mauvaka with a run down the touchline, what a player he is. France purring now, into the 22 with Dupont running the show. Quick ruck speed helping the hosts as Fickou and Atonio have a go, we’ve hit a dozen phases. But a great bit of work from Garcia wins the ball back and Argentina break!
09:23 PM GMT
46 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Promising French attack but it falls apart in Argentina’s 22. Scalvi off for Gomez Kodela. Gonzalez has returned from his yellow card.
It’s been fun enough this game but quite stop-start, wouldn’t you say?
09:21 PM GMT
44 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Argentina with a forward pass in midfield from Matera. They just haven’t managed to get going.
09:19 PM GMT
44 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Montoya hits Rubiolo and this is a handy maul before they break clear. Villiere slows it down legally but here comes the Argentina pack.
Looks like a tip tackle on Dupont off the ball? That will surely be checked. France have turned it over anyway and clear, we’re playing on.
09:17 PM GMT
42 mins – France 30-9 Argentina
Sharp blast on the whistle from Pearce because Isgro is down in some pain. Looks like a shoulder injury, wondered at first if it was a dislocation but must be a stinger and he’s carrying on.
Then, at the scrum, France go early with their pressure so it’s a free-kick.
09:14 PM GMT
Back underway in Paris
Argentina with a lot of work to do, having not played terribly.
09:13 PM GMT
Trendy France
Here’s the build-up to the penalty try:
08:59 PM GMT
HALF-TIME: France 30-9 Argentina
Nails it, of course. It’s been the Ramos show so far and France have a chunky 21-point lead. Argentina’s discipline and game management way off the pace.
08:57 PM GMT
39 mins – France 27-9 Argentina
More good defence from Argentina to poach the ball back before Garcia’s box kick. But, France are bossing possession and have another penalty for an early tackle. Ramos checks with Dupont, he’s going for the posts.
08:55 PM GMT
38 mins – France 27-9 Argentina
France trying to run Argentina off the park there, Dupont taking a tapped penalty and then kicking to touch deep in Argentina’s 22. But the visitors win the lineout and Albornoz clears.
08:53 PM GMT
PENALTY TRY! France 27-9 Argentina
Quality turnover from the huge Meafou, did it with one hand! France from that counter, Bielle-Biarrey in the corner chasing another excellent Ramos kick… it’s slapped away, that might be a penalty try! Was it slapped backwards by Gonzalez? More like sideways, his palm is facing forwards when he hits it so this could be trouble.
Penalty try for France and a yellow card for Gonzalez. Not everyone agrees.
I may give up on rugby soon. That Luke Pearce yellow on Montoya was severe officiating.
For the bad of the game.
— Paul Tait (@AmericasOval) November 22, 2024
08:49 PM GMT
TRY VILLIERE! France 20-9 Argentina
Ollivon bursts off the scrum and here come France, wave after wave of bruising carries, 10 now and they’re two metres out. The ball comes wide and Villiere is over! Perfect balance there of the power of the pack and then their backs coming into it. Barre is some attacker with his height at full-back. Ramos converts.
08:46 PM GMT
30 mins – France 13-9 Argentina
Barre with a lovely run before Argentina’s defence gives up an offside penalty. But again, a scrappy attacking lineout which is knocked on as France try to set up the maul, that’s their second in a row!
08:44 PM GMT
28 mins – France 13-9 Argentina
Ramos in some purple patch, just threaded a superb 50:22. But France lose the lineout and Argentina clear!
08:42 PM GMT
PENALTY ALBORNOZ! France 13-9 Argentina
Do you like penalties? Hope so! Albornoz keeps the run going.
08:40 PM GMT
25 mins – France 13-6 Argentina
Superb jackal work from Matera to win a turnover penalty for Argentina. Matera now coming off for an HIA, maybe that was a mouthguard trigger? Meafou did hit him, who isn’t light.
08:39 PM GMT
PENALTY RAMOS! France 13-6 Argentina
The Toulouse back has absolutely belted that penalty over with ease from 50 metres. Back to a seven-point lead.
08:36 PM GMT
22 mins – France 10-6 Argentina
Deep restart from Ramos goes out on the full, hitting the line, so a scrum for Argentina on halfway. But penalty France again! Wardi getting the penalty on Scalvi. Ramos taking a shot from halfway.
08:35 PM GMT
PENALTY ALBORNOZ! France 10-6 Argentina
Albornoz delivers again, keeping Argentina in touch.
08:35 PM GMT
18 mins – France 10-3 Argentina
Deep restart from Argentina is cleared to touch by France. Good short lineout to Petti and they’re back into France’s 22.
Patient attack this, over 10 phases before Mallia puts Matera into space. Now 15 phases, in France’s 22. Bit of room for Isgro if they go cross-field kick but France counter-ruck well… too well, crawling so that’s a penalty.
08:31 PM GMT
PENALTY RAMOS! France 10-3 Argentina
Slotted easily by Ramos. They’ve just shown a wrapped-up, yawning Mathieu Bastareaud in the crowd, the great man.
08:30 PM GMT
16 mins – France 7-3 Argentina
Great hustle from Villiere at the restart to tap it back, before France win a penalty. Ramos lining up a shot.
08:29 PM GMT
PENALTY ALBORNOZ! France 7-3 Argentina
A chip shot from there as Argentina get on the board. Montoya returns too.
08:28 PM GMT
12 mins – France 7-0 Argentina
Kicked long by Argentina but France get back well, before Dupont thumps that up the middle of the field.
Good reply though from Argentina, Albornoz with a handy run and now the pack take them five metres out! Oviedo held up over the line but Atonio is offside. Argentina will have a shot.
08:24 PM GMT
TRY FLAMENT! France 7-0 Argentina
France from deep, Fickou kicks long but it beats Bielle-Biarrey into touch deep in Argentina’s 22, a 50:22 no less. From the lineout they go to the tail, couple of big runs and Flament is over! Big power carries from Moefana and then the lock. Ramos converts.
Montoya’s yellow card is remaining yellow.
08:22 PM GMT
Here’s the Montoya yellow card
08:21 PM GMT
7 mins – France 0-0 Argentina
Scenes! Scrum penalty France, huge shove by Wardi, and then Cros has shoved an Argentina player over, I think Garcia, and the penalty is reversed! Argentina clear.
08:20 PM GMT
6 mins – France 0-0 Argentina
France find touch and attack from the lineout. Villiere into the 22, now Wardi and Atonio crashing up (some weight there). Ollivon to five metres out, Wardi again. Pressure on Dupont’s pass and it’s knocked on! Argentina’s defence holds, their scrum near their line.
Something being checked… possible tip tackle? Was there a lift or not in the hit on Wardi by Scalvi. The Argentina tighthead is on his knees and it looks like Wardi’s momentum just carries him over the top. No foul play, we continue.
08:15 PM GMT
4 mins – France 0-0 Argentina
Dupont scampers around looking for a gap but there isn’t one, so France reload deep near their line before he clears with a box kick.
Gros limping off here and we’re having a croc roll checked by the TMO. Wardi comes on. Pearce has seen enough of a twist, targeting the lower limb, even though there’s no weight on it. Montoya arguing that it’s not a croc roll – he’s right – but Pearce tells him he has gone on the lower limb. Yellow card for Argentina as the captain goes off, going off to Gros and shaking his hand.
08:14 PM GMT
2 mins – France 0-0 Argentina
Huge bomb from Albornoz is knocked on by Moefana, so an Argentina scrum on halfway. Free-kick to the visitors, too much of a lean from Atonio.
Not a lot happening for Argentina’s attack so far, Argentina up to seven phases but still stuck on France’s 10-metre line. Chipped ahead by Moroni and Barre gets back to regather near his five-metre line, doing well.
08:11 PM GMT
Kickoff!
England’s very own Luke Pearce on the whistle and we’re off, Ramos kicking deep, Argentina winning the restart and after a couple of phases kicking clear.
Lots of French from Pearce, which we enjoy.
08:10 PM GMT
Talk that it might be Atonio’s last Test
If so, what a prop, what a player. The flair here.
08:05 PM GMT
Teams are out
Don’t know if we have an award for best pyrotechnics and lasers but obviously the Stade de France would win it.
08:03 PM GMT
Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi
07:56 PM GMT
France defence coach Shaun Edwards
07:51 PM GMT
Indulge me for a second
I want to tell you about Joaquin Oviedo. The Argentina No 8 has been one of the breakout players of the year, looks a great athlete with a good turn of pace, and against Ireland was right at the heart of their counter-rucking efforts in the second half. At 23 and 6ft 3in, he looks like he could be around for some time.
07:38 PM GMT
The teams
France: 15 Leo Barre; 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain);1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Charles Ollivon
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Marko Gazzotti, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia; 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Bautista Delguy; 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Mateo Carreras.
07:32 PM GMT
Le Toss!
Two handy captains there in Antoine Dupont and Julian Montoya.
07:22 PM GMT
Some serious weather in Paris yesterday
07:10 PM GMT
Welcome
Evening all, what a nice way this should be to kick off the final weekend of Autumn Nations Series fixtures, a properly spicy meeting between two sporting countries who really are not massive fans of each other at the moment with France facing Argentina.
In terms of the actual rugby there is a lot to like about both sides. Argentina will still be smarting from last Friday’s defeat to Ireland in Dublin, where they failed to get going until the second half and finished the stronger side.
As for France, a one-point win over the All Blacks made for some spectacle and featured some exceptional individual performances, including from flying wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey and back-row Charles Ollivon, who came up with a vital try-saving tackle.
Victory tonight over Argentina would complete an unbeaten autumn for France, now on a four-match unbeaten run at home since losing to Ireland at the start of the year in Marseille.
Changes to France’s side include Uini Atonio replacing the injured Tevita Tatafu at tighthead, Gregory Alldritt dropping out of the 23 with Ollivon moving to No 8 and Francois Cros returning to the back row, while Leo Barre comes in at full-back for last week’s debutant Romain Buros, who has failed to recover from a dead leg.
Asked about Alldritt’s exclusion, head coach Fabien Galthie told reporters: “Team changes don’t fall from the sky. He’s a captain, leader, an exemplary player that all the players want to follow and he will remain like that. There’s competition, there’s a change in team selection. There’s no controversy around that.”
Argentina have made one change to their starting XV with Gonzalo Garcia in at scrum-half for Gonzalo Bertranou, but their bench is significantly strengthened by the return of Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras.
Kickoff coming your way at 8.10 GMT.
